Prayers (Salat)

Allah's Apostle said, "While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was
opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with
Zam-zam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith
and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. Then he
took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven, when I
reached the nearest heaven, Gabriel said to the gatekeeper of the
heaven, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel
answered: 'Gabriel.' He asked, 'Is there anyone with you?' Gabriel
replied, 'Yes, Muhammad I is with me.' He asked, 'Has he been called?'
Gabriel said, 'Yes.' So the gate was opened and we went over the
nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his
right and some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he
laughed and when he looked toward his left he wept. Then he said,
'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is
he?' He replied, 'He is Adam and the people on his right and left are
the souls of his offspring. Those on his right are the people of
Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when he
looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left
he weeps.'

Then he ascended with me till he reached the second heaven and he
(Gabriel) said to its gatekeeper, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper
said to him the same as the gatekeeper of the first heaven had said
and he opened the gate. Anas said: "Abu Dhar added that the Prophet
met Adam, Idris, Moses, Jesus and Abraham, he (Abu Dhar) did not
mention on which heaven they were but he mentioned that he (the
Prophet ) met Adarn on the nearest heaven and Abraham on the sixth
heaven. Anas said, "When Gabriel along with the Prophet passed by
Idris, the latter said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious brother.'
The Prophet asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Idris." The
Prophet added, "I passed by Moses and he said, 'Welcome! O pious
Prophet and pious brother.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel
replied, 'He is Moses.' Then I passed by Jesus and he said, 'Welcome!
O pious brother and pious Prophet.' I asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel
replied, 'He is Jesus.

Then I passed by Abraham and he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and
pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is
Abraham. The Prophet added, 'Then Gabriel ascended with me to a place
where I heard the creaking of the pens." Ibn Hazm and Anas bin Malik
said: The Prophet said, "Then Allah enjoined fifty prayers on my
followers when I returned with this order of Allah, I passed by Moses
who asked me, 'What has Allah enjoined on your followers?' I replied,
'He has enjoined fifty prayers on them.' Moses said, 'Go back to your
Lord (and appeal for reduction) for your followers will not be able to
bear it.' (So I went back to Allah and requested for reduction) and He
reduced it to half. When I passed by Moses again and informed him
about it, he said, 'Go back to your Lord as your followers will not be
able to bear it.' So I returned to Allah and requested for further
reduction and half of it was reduced. I again passed by Moses and he
said to me: 'Return to your Lord, for your followers will not be able
to bear it. So I returned to Allah and He said, 'These are five
prayers and they are all (equal to) fifty (in reward) for My Word does
not change.' I returned to Moses and he told me to go back once again.
I replied, 'Now I feel shy of asking my Lord again.' Then Gabriel took
me till we '' reached Sidrat-il-Muntaha (Lote tree of; the utmost
boundry) which was shrouded in colors, indescribable. Then I was
admitted into Paradise where I found small (tents or) walls (made) of
pearls and its earth was of musk."

the mother of believers: Allah enjoined the prayer when He enjoined
it, it was two Rakat only (in every prayer) both when in residence or
on journey. Then the prayers offered on journey remained the same, but
(the Rakat of) the prayers for non-travellers were increased.

We were ordered to bring out our menstruating women and veiled women
in the religious gatherings and invocation of Muslims on the two 'Id
festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from their
Musalla. A woman asked, "O Allah's Apostle ' What about one who does
not have a veil?" He said, "Let her share the veil of her companion."

Once Jabir prayed with his Izar tied to his back while his clothes
were Lying beside him on a wooden peg. Somebody asked him, "Do you
offer your prayer in a single Izar?" He replied, "I did so to show it
to a fool like you. Had anyone of us two garments in the life-time of
the Prophet?"

(the freed slave of Um Hani) Um Hani, the daughter of Abi Talib said,
"I went to Allah's Apostle in the year of the conquest of Mecca and
found him taking a bath and his daughter Fatima was screening him. I
greeted him. He asked, 'Who is she?' I replied, 'I am Um Hani bint Abi
Talib.' He said, 'Welcome! O Um Hani.' When he finished his bath he
stood up and prayed eight Rak at while wearing a single garment
wrapped round his body and when he finished I said, 'O Allah's Apostle
! My brother has told me that he will kill a person whom I gave
shelter and that person is so and so the son of Hubaira.' The Prophet
said, 'We shelter the person whom you have sheltered.' " Um Ham added,
"And that was before noon (Duha)."

I asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah about praying in a single garment. He
said, "I travelled with the Prophet during some of his journeys, and I
came to him at night for some purpose and I found him praying. At that
time, I was wearing a single garment with which I covered my shoulders
and prayed by his side. When he finished the prayer, he asked, 'O
Jabir! What has brought you here?' I told him what I wanted. When I
finished, he asked, 'O Jabir! What is this garment which I have seen
and with which you covered your shoulders?' I replied, 'It is a
(tight) garment.' He said, 'If the garment is large enough, wrap it
round the body (covering the shoulders) and if it is tight (too short)
then use it as an Izar (tie it around your waist only.)' "

The men used to pray with the Prophet with their Izars tied around
their necks as boys used to do; therefore the Prophet told the women
not to raise their heads till the men sat down straight (while
praying).

Once I was traveling with the Prophet and he said, "O Mughira! take
this container of water." I took it and Allah's Apostle went far away
till he disappeared. He answered the call of nature and was wearing a
Syrian cloak. He tried to take out his hands from its sleeve but it
was very tight so he took out his hands from under it. I poured water
and he performed ablution like that for prayers and passed his wet
hands over his Khuff (leather socks) and then prayed .

While Allah's Apostle was carrying stones (along) with the people of
Mecca for (the building of) the Ka'ba wearing an Izar (waist-sheet
cover), his uncle Al-'Abbas said to him, "O my nephew! (It would be
better) if you take off your Izar and put it over your shoulders
underneath the stones." So he took off his Izar and put it over his
shoulders, but he fell unconscious and since then he had never been
seen naked.

A man stood up and asked the Prophet about praying in a single
garment. The Prophet said, "Has every one of you two garments?" A man
put a similar question to 'Umar on which he replied, "When Allah makes
you wealthier then you should clothe yourself properly during prayers.
Otherwise one can pray with an Izar and a Rida' (a sheet covering the
upper part of the body.) Izar and a shirt, Izar and a Qaba', trousers
and a Rida, trousers and a shirt or trousers and a Qaba', Tubban and a
Qaba' or Tubban and a shirt." (The narrator added, "I think that he
also said a Tubban and a Rida. ")

A person asked Allah's Apostle, "What should a Muhrim wear?" He
replied, "He should not wear shirts, trousers, a burnus (a hooded
cloak), or clothes which are stained with saffron or Wars (a kind of
perfume). Whoever does not find a sandal to wear can wear Khuffs, but
these should be cut short so as not to cover the ankles.

Allah's Apostle forbade Ishtimal-As-Samma' (wrapping one's body with a
garment so that one cannot raise its end or take one's hand out of
it). He also forbade Al-Ihtiba' (sitting on buttocks with knees close
to abdomen and feet apart with the hands circling the knees) while
wrapping oneself with a single garment, without having a part of it
over the private parts.

The Prophet forbade two kinds of sales i.e. Al-Limais and An-Nibadh
(the former is a kind of sale in which the deal is completed if the
buyer touches a thing, without seeing or checking it properly and the
latter is a kind of a sale in which the deal is completed when the
seller throws a thing towards the buyer giving him no opportunity to
see, touch or check it) and (the Prophet forbade) also
Ishtimal-As-Samma' and Al-Ihtiba' in a single garment.

On the Day of Nahr (10th of Dhul-Hijja, in the year prior to the last
Hajj of the Prophet when Abu Bakr was the leader of the pilgrims in
that Hajj) Abu Bakr sent me along with other announcers to Mina to
make a public announcement: "No pagan is allowed to perform Hajj after
this year and no naked person is allowed to perform the Tawaf around
the Ka'ba. Then Allah's Apostle sent 'All to read out the Surat Bara'a
(At-Tauba) to the people; so he made the announcement along with us on
the day of Nahr in Mina: "No pagan is allowed to perform Hajj after
this year and no naked person is allowed to perform the Tawaf around
the Ka'ba."

I went to Jabir bin 'Abdullah and he was praying wrapped in a garment
and his Rida was Lying beside him. When he finished the prayers, I
said "O 'Abdullah! You pray (in a single garment) while your Rida' is
lying beside you." He replied, "Yes, I did it intentionally so that
the ignorant ones like you might see me. I saw the Prophet praying
like this. "

Anas said, 'When Allah's Apostle invaded Khaibar, we offered the Fajr
prayer there yearly in the morning) when it was still dark. The
Prophet rode and Abu Talha rode too and I was riding behind Abu Talha.
The Prophet passed through the lane of Khaibar quickly and my knee was
touching the thigh of the Prophet . He uncovered his thigh and I saw
the whiteness of the thigh of the Prophet. When he entered the town,
he said, 'Allahu Akbar! Khaibar is ruined. Whenever we approach near a
(hostile) nation (to fight) then evil will be the morning of those who
have been warned.' He repeated this thrice. The people came out for
their jobs and some of them said, 'Muhammad (has come).' (Some of our
companions added, "With his army.") We conquered Khaibar, took the
captives, and the booty was collected. Dihya came and said, 'O Allah's
Prophet! Give me a slave girl from the captives.' The Prophet said,
'Go and take any slave girl.' He took Safiya bint Huyai. A man came to
the Prophet and said, 'O Allah's Apostles! You gave Safiya bint Huyai
to Dihya and she is the chief mistress of the tribes of Quraiza and
An-Nadir and she befits none but you.' So the Prophet said, 'Bring him
along with her.' So Dihya came with her and when the Prophet saw her,
he said to Dihya, 'Take any slave girl other than her from the
captives.' Anas added: The Prophet then manumitted her and married
her."

Thabit asked Anas, "O Abu Hamza! What did the Prophet pay her (as
Mahr)?" He said, "Her self was her Mahr for he manumitted her and then
married her." Anas added, "While on the way, Um Sulaim dressed her for
marriage (ceremony) and at night she sent her as a bride to the
Prophet . So the Prophet was a bridegroom and he said, 'Whoever has
anything (food) should bring it.' He spread out a leather sheet (for
the food) and some brought dates and others cooking butter. (I think
he (Anas) mentioned As-SawTq). So they prepared a dish of Hais (a kind
of meal). And that was Walrma (the marriage banquet) of Allah's
Apostle ."

Allah's Apostle used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women
covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with
him and then they would return to their homes unrecognized .

the Prophet prayed in a Khamisa (a square garment) having marks.
During the prayer, he looked at its marks. So when he finished the
prayer he said, "Take this Khamisa of mine to Abu Jahm and get me his
Inbijaniya (a woolen garment without marks) as it (the Khamisa) has
diverted my attention from the prayer."

'Aisha had a Qiram (a thin marked woolen curtain) with which he had
screened one side of her home. The Prophet said, "Take away this Qiram
of yours, as its pictures are still displayed in front of me during my
prayer (i.e. they divert my attention from the prayer)."

The Prophet was given a silken Farruj as a present. He wore it while
praying. When he had finished his prayer, he took it off violently as
if with a strong aversion to it and said, "It is not the dress of
Allah-fearing pious people."

I saw Allah's Apostle in a red leather tent and I saw Bilal taking the
remaining water with which the Prophet had performed ablution. I saw
the people taking the utilized water impatiently and whoever got some
of it rubbed it on his body and those who could not get any took the
moisture from the others' hands. Then I saw Bilal carrying an 'Anza (a
spear-headed stick) which he planted in the ground. The Prophet came
out tucking up his red cloak, and led the people in prayer and offered
two Rakat (facing the Ka'ba) taking 'Anza as a Sutra for his prayer. I
saw the people and animals passing in front of him beyond the 'Anza.

Sahl bin Sa'd was asked about the (Prophet's) pulpit as to what thing
it was made of? Sahl replied: "None remains alive amongst the people,
who knows about it better than I. It was made of tamarisk (wood) of
the forest. So and so, the slave of so and so prepared it for Allah's
Apostle . When it was constructed and place (in the Mosque), Allah's
Apostle stood on it facing the Qibla and said 'Allahu Akbar', and the
people stood behind him (and led the people in prayer). He recited and
bowed and the people bowed behind him. Then he raised his head and
stepped back, got down and prostrated on the ground and then he again
ascended the pulpit, recited, bowed, raised his head and stepped back,
got down and prostrate on the ground. So, this is what I know about
the pulpit."

Ahmad bin Hanbal said, "As the Prophet was at a higher level than the
people, there is no harm according to the above-mentioned Hadith if
the Imam is at a higher level than his followers during the prayers."

Once Allah's Apostle fell off a horse and his leg or shoulder got
injured. He swore that he would not go to his wives for one month and
he stayed in a Mashruba (attic room) having stairs made of date palm
trunks. So his companions came to visit him, and he led them in prayer
sitting, whereas his companions were standing. When he finished the
prayer, he said, "Imam is meant to be followed, so when he says
'Allahu Akbar,' say 'Allahu Akbar' and when he bows, bow and when he
prostrates, prostrate and if he prays standing pray, standing. After
the 29th day the Prophet came down (from the attic room) and the
people asked him, "O Allah's Apostle! You swore that you will not go
to your wives for one month." He said, "The month is 29 days."

Maimuna said, "Allah's Apostle was praying while I was in my menses,
sitting beside him and sometimes his clothes would touch me during his
prostration." Maimuna added, "He prayed on a Khumra (a small mat
sufficient just for the face and the hands while prostrating during
prayers).

Anas bin Malik said, "My grand-mother Mulaika invited Allah's Apostle
for a meal which she herself had prepared. He ate from it and said,
'Get up! I will lead you in the prayer.' " Anas added, "I took my
Hasir, washed it with water as it had become dark because of long use
and Allah's Apostle stood on it. The orphan (Damira or Ruh) and I
aligned behind him and the old lady (Mulaika) stood behind us. Allah's
Apostle led us in the prayer and offered two Rak'at and then left."

'Aisha the wife of the Prophet said, "I used to sleep in front of
Allah's Apostle and my legs were opposite his Qibla and in prostration
he pushed my legs and I withdrew then and when he stood, I stretched
them.' 'Aisha added, "In those days the houses were without lights."

Hammam bin Al-Harith said, "I saw Jarir bin 'Abdullah urinating. Then
he performed ablution and passed his (wet) hands over his Khuffs,
stood up and prayed. He was asked about it. He replied that he had
seen the Prophet doing the same." They approved of this narration as
Jarir was one of those who embraced Islam very late.

Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever prays like us and faces our Quibla and
eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah's and His
Apostle's protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who
are in His protection."

Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till
they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.' And if they
say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we
slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we
will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will
be with Allah." Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin
Malik, "O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person
sacred?" He replied, "Whoever says, 'None has the right to be
worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like
us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got
the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have."

The Prophet said, "While defecating, neither face nor turn your back
to the Qibla but face either east or west." Abu Aiyub added. "When we
arrived in Sham we came across some lavatories facing the Qibla;
therefore we turned ourselves while using them and asked for Allah's
forgiveness."

I asked Ibn 'Umar, "Can a person who has performed the Tawaf around
the Ka'ba for 'Umra but has not performed the (Sa'i) Tawaf of Safa and
Marwa, have a sexual relation with his wife?" Ibn 'Umar replied "When
the Prophet reached Mecca he performed the Tawaf around the Ka'ba
(circumambulated it seven times) and offered a two-Rak'at prayer (at
the place) behind the station (of Abraham) and then performed the
Tawaf (Sa'i) of Safa and Marwa, and verily in Allah's Apostle you have
a good example." Then we put the same question to Jabir bin 'Abdullah
and he too replied, "He should not go near his wife (for sexual
relation) till he has finished the Tawaf of Safa and Marwa."

Someone came to Ibn 'Umar and said, "Here is Allah's Apostle entering
the Ka'ba." Ibn 'Umar said, "I went there but the Prophet had come out
of the Ka'ba and I found Bilal standing between its two doors. I asked
Bilal, 'Did the Prophet pray in the Ka'ba?' Bilal replied, 'Yes, he
prayed two Rakat between the two pillars which are to your left on
entering the Ka'ba. Then Allah's Apostle came out and offered a
two-Rak'at prayer facing the Ka'ba.' "

When the Prophet entered the Ka'ba, he invoked Allah in each and every
side of it and did not pray till he came out of it, and offered a
two-Rak'at prayer facing the Ka'ba and said, "This is the Qibla."

Allah's Apostle prayed facing Baitul-Maqdis for sixteen or seventeen
months but he loved to face the Ka'ba (at Mecca) so Allah revealed:
"Verily, We have seen the turning of your face to the heaven!" (2:144)
So the Prophet faced the Ka'ba and the fools amongst the people namely
"the Jews" said, "What has turned them from their Qibla
(Bait-ul-Maqdis) which they formerly observed"" (Allah revealed):
"Say: 'To Allah belongs the East and the West. He guides whom he will
to a straight path'." (2:142) A man prayed with the Prophet (facing
the Ka'ba) and went out. He saw some of the Ansar praying the 'Asr
prayer with their faces towards Bait-ul-Maqdis, he said, "I bear
witness that I prayed with Allah's Apostle facing the Ka'ba." So all
the people turned their faces towards the Ka'ba.

Allah's Apostle used to pray (optional, non-obligatory prayer) while
riding on his mount (Rahila) wherever it turned, and whenever he
wanted to pray the compulsory prayer he dismounted and prayed facing
the Qibla.

The Prophet prayed (and the subnarrator Ibrahim said, "I do not know
whether he prayed more or less than usual"), and when he had finished
the prayers he was asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Has there been any
change in the prayers?" He said, "What is it?' The people said, "You
have prayed so much and so much." So the Prophet bent his legs, faced
the Qibla and performed two prostrations (of Sahu) and finished his
prayers with Tasiim (by turning his face to right and left saying:
'As-Salamu'Alaikum-Warahmat-ullah'). When he turned his face to us he
said, "If there had been anything changed in the prayer, surely I
would have informed you but I am a human being like you and liable to
forget like you. So if I forget remind me and if anyone of you is
doubtful about his prayer, he should follow what he thinks to be
correct and complete his prayer accordingly and finish it and do two
prostrations (of Sahu)."

1. I said,"O Allah's Apostle, I wish we took the station of Abraham as
our praying place (for some of our prayers). So came the Divine
Inspiration: And take you (people) the station of Abraham as a place
of prayer (for some of your prayers e.g. two Rakat of Tawaf of
Ka'ba)". (2.125)

2. And as regards the (verse of) the veiling of the women, I said, 'O
Allah's Apostle! I wish you ordered your wives to cover themselves
from the men because good and bad ones talk to them.' So the verse of
the veiling of the women was revealed.

3. Once the wives of the Prophet made a united front against the
Prophet and I said to them, 'It may be if he (the Prophet) divorced
you, (all) that his Lord (Allah) will give him instead of you wives
better than you.' So this verse (the same as I had said) was
revealed." (66.5).

While the people were offering the Fajr prayer at Quba (near Medina),
someone came to them and said: "It has been revealed to Allah's
Apostle tonight, and he has been ordered to pray facing the Ka'ba." So
turn your faces to the Ka'ba. Those people were facing Sham
(Jerusalem) so they turned their faces towards Ka'ba (at Mecca).

"Once the Prophet offered five Rakat in Zuhr prayer. He was asked, "Is
there an increase in the prayer?" The Prophet said, "And what is it?"
They said, "You have prayed five Rakat.' So he bent his legs and
performed two prostrations (of Sahu).

The Prophet saw some sputum in the direction of the Qibla (on the wall
of the mosque) and he disliked that and the sign of disgust was
apparent from his face. So he got up and scraped it off with his hand
and said, "Whenever anyone of you stands for the prayer, he is
speaking in private to his Lord or his Lord is between him and his
Qibla. So, none of you should spit in the direction of the Qibla but
one can spit to the left or under his foot." The Prophet then took the
corner of his sheet and spat in it and folded it and said, "Or you can
do like this. "

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle saw sputum on the wall
of the mosque in the direction of the Qibla and scraped it off. He
faced the people and said, "Whenever any one of you is praying, he
should not spit in front of him because in the prayer Allah is in front
of him."

Allah's Apostle saw some expectoration on the wall of the mosque; he
took gravel and scraped it off and said, "If anyone of you wanted to
spit he should neither spit in front of him nor on his right but he
could spit either on his left or under his left foot."

Allah's Apostle saw some expectoration on the wall of the mosque; he
took gravel and scraped it off and said, "If anyone of you wanted to
spit, he should neither spit in front of him nor on his right but
could spit either on his left or under his left foot."

The Prophet said, "A faithful believer while in prayer is speaking in
private to his Lord, so he should neither spit in front of him nor to
his right side but he could spit either on his left or under his
foot."

The Prophet saw sputum on (the wall of) the mosque in the direction of
the Qibla and scraped it off with gravel. Then he forbade Spitting in
front or on the right, but allowed it on one's left or under one's
left foot.

Prophet said, "If anyone of you stands for prayer, he should not spit
in front of him because in prayer he is speaking in private to Allah
and he should not spit on his right as there is an angel, but he can
spit either on his left or under his left foot and bury it (i.e.
expectoration)."

The Prophet saw expectoration (on the wall of the mosque) in the
direction of the Qibla and scraped it off with his hand. It seemed
that he disliked it and the sign of disgust was apparent from his
face. He said, "If anyone of you stands for the prayer, he is speaking
in private to his Lord, (or) his Lord is between him and his Qibla,
therefore he should not spit towards his Qibla, but he could spit
either on his left or under his foot." Then he took the corner of his
sheet and spat in it, folded it and said, "Or do like this."

Allah's Apostle ordered for a horse race; the trained horses were to
run from a place called Al-Hafya' to Thaniyat Al-Wada' and the horses
which were not trained were to run from Al-Thaniya to the Masjid
(mosque of) Bani Zuraiq. The sub narrator added: Ibn Umar was one of
those who took part in the race.

Some goods came to Allah's Apostle from Bahrain. The Prophet ordered
the people to spread them in the mosque --it was the biggest amount of
goods Allah's Apostle had ever received. He left for prayer and did
not even look at it. After finishing the prayer, he sat by those goods
and gave from those to everybody he saw. Al-'Abbas came to him and
said, "O Allah's Apostle! give me (something) too, because I gave
ransom for myself and 'Aqil" Allah's Apostle told him to take. So he
stuffed his garment with it and tried to carry it away but he failed
to do so. He said, "O Allah's Apostle! Order someone to help me in
lifting it." The Prophet refused. He then said to the Prophet: Will
you please help me to lift it?" Allah's Apostle refused. Then
Al-'Abbas threw some of it and tried to lift it (but failed). He again
said, "O Allah's Apostle Order someone to help me to lift it." He
refused. Al-'Abbas then said to the Prophet: "Will you please help me
to lift it?" He again refused. Then Al-'Abbas threw some of it, and
lifted it on his shoulders and went away. Allah's Apostle kept on
watching him till he disappeared from his sight and was astonished at
his greediness. Allah's Apostle did not get up till the last coin was
distributed.

I found the Prophet in the mosque along with some people. He said to
me, "Did Abu Talha send you?" I said, "Yes". He said, "For a meal?" I
said, "Yes." Then he said to his companions, "Get up." They set out
and I was ahead of them.

who was one of the companions of Allah's Apostle and one of the
Ansar's who took part in the battle of Badr: I came to Allah's Apostle
and said, "O Allah's Apostle I have weak eyesight and I lead my people
in prayers. When it rains the water flows in the valley between me and
my people so I cannot go to their mosque to lead them in prayer. O
Allah's Apostle! I wish you would come to my house and pray in it so
that I could take that place as a Musalla. Allah's Apostle said.
"Allah willing, I will do so." Next day after the sun rose high,
Allah's Apostle and Abu Bakr came and Allah's Apostle asked for
permission to enter. I gave him permission and he did not sit on
entering the house but said to me, "Where do you like me to pray?" I
pointed to a place in my house. So Allah's Apostle stood there and
said, 'Allahu Akbar', and we all got up and aligned behind him and
offered a two-Rak'at prayer and ended it with Taslim. We requested him
to stay for a meal called "Khazira" which we had prepared for him.
Many members of our family gathered in the house and one of them said,
"Where is Malik bin Al-Dukhaishin or Ibn Al-Dukhshun?" One of them
replied, "He is a hypocrite and does not love Allah and His Apostle."
Hearing that, Allah's Apostle said, "Do not say so. Haven't you seen
that he said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah' for
Allah's sake only?" He said, "Allah and His Apostle know better. We
have seen him helping and advising hypocrites."

Allah's Apostle said, "Allah has forbidden the (Hell) fire for those
who say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah' for Allah's
sake only."

Um Habiba and Um Salama mentioned about a church they had seen in
Ethiopia in which there were pictures. They told the Prophet about it,
on which he said, "If any religious man dies amongst those people they
would build a place of worship at his grave and make these pictures in
it. They will be the worst creature in the sight of Allah on the Day
of Resurrection."

When the Prophet arrived Medina he dismounted at 'Awali-i-Medina
amongst a tribe called Banu 'Amr bin 'Auf. He stayed there For
fourteen nights. Then he sent for Bani An-Najjar and they came armed
with their swords. As if I am looking (just now) as the Prophet was
sitting over his Rahila (Mount) with Abu Bakr riding behind him and
all Banu An-Najjar around him till he dismounted at the courtyard of
Abu Aiyub's house. The Prophet loved to pray wherever the time for the
prayer was due even at sheep-folds. Later on he ordered that a mosque
should be built and sent for some people of Banu-An-Najjar and said,
"O Banu An-Najjar! Suggest to me the price of this (walled) piece of
land of yours." They replied, "No! By Allah! We do not demand its
price except from Allah." Anas added: There were graves of pagans in
it and some of it was unleveled and there were some date-palm trees in
it. The Prophet ordered that the graves of the pagans be dug out and
the unleveled land be level led and the date-palm trees be cut down .
(So all that was done). They aligned these cut date-palm trees towards
the Qibla of the mosque (as a wall) and they also built two stone
side-walls (of the mosque). His companions brought the stones while
reciting some poetic verses. The Prophet was with them and he kept on
saying, "There is no goodness except that of the Hereafter, O Allah!
So please forgive the Ansars and the emigrants. "

Allah's Apostle said, "Do not enter (the places) of these people where
Allah's punishment had fallen unless you do so weeping. If you do not
weep, do not enter (the places of these people) because Allah's curse
and punishment which fell upon them may fall upon you."

Um Salama told Allah's Apostle about a church which she had seen in
Ethiopia and which was called Mariya. She told him about the pictures
which she had seen in it. Allah's Apostle said, "If any righteous
pious man dies amongst them, they would build a place of worship at
his grave and make these pictures in it; they are the worst creatures
in the sight of Allah."

When the last moment of the life of Allah's Apostle came he started
putting his 'Khamisa' on his face and when he felt hot and short of
breath he took it off his face and said, "May Allah curse the Jews and
Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their
Prophets." The Prophet was warning (Muslims) of what those had done.

There was a black slave girl belonging to an 'Arab tribe and they
manumitted her but she remained with them. The slave girl said, "Once
one of their girls (of that tribe) came out wearing a red leather
scarf decorated with precious stones. It fell from her or she placed
it somewhere. A kite passed by that place, saw it Lying there and
mistaking it for a piece of meat, flew away with it. Those people
searched for it but they did not find it. So they accused me of
stealing it and started searching me and even searched my private
parts." The slave girl further said, "By Allah! while I was standing
(in that state) with those people, the same kite passed by them and
dropped the red scarf and it fell amongst them. I told them, 'This is
what you accused me of and I was innocent and now this is it.' "
'Aisha added: That slave girl came to Allah's Apostle and embraced
Islam. She had a tent or a small room with a low roof in the mosque.
Whenever she called on me, she had a talk with me and whenever she sat
with me, she would recite the following: "The day of the scarf (band)
was one of the wonders of our Lord, verily He rescued me from the
disbelievers' town. 'Aisha added: "Once I asked her, 'What is the
matter with you? Whenever you sit with me, you always recite these
poetic verses.' On that she told me the whole story. "

Allah's Apostle went to Fatima's house but did not find 'Ali there. So
he asked, "Where is your cousin?" She replied, "There was something
between us and he got angry with me and went out. He did not sleep
(mid-day nap) in the house." Allah's Apostle asked a person to look
for him. That person came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! He (Ali) is
sleeping in the mosque." Allah's Apostle went there and 'Ali was
lying. His upper body cover had fallen down to one side of his body
and he was covered with dust. Allah's Apostle started cleaning the
dust from him saying: "Get up! O Aba Turab. Get up! O Aba Turab
(literally means: O father of dust).

I saw seventy of As-Suffa men and none of them had a Rida' (a garment
covering the upper part of the body). They had either Izars (only) or
sheets which they tied round their necks. Some of these sheets reached
the middle of their legs and some reached their heels and they used to
gather them with their hands lest their private parts should become
naked.

I went to the Prophet in the mosque (the sub-narrator Mas'ar thought
that Jabir had said, "In the forenoon.") He ordered me to pray two
Rakat. He owed me some money and he repaid it to me and gave more than
what was due to me.

Allah's Apostle said, "The angels keep on asking Allah's forgiveness
for anyone of you, as long as he is at his Mu,salla (praying place)
and he does not pass wind (Hadath). They say, 'O Allah! Forgive him, O
Allah! be Merciful to him."

In the life-time of Allah's Apostle the mosque was built of adobes,
its roof of the leaves of date-palms and its pillars of the stems of
date-palms. Abu Bakr did not alter it. 'Umar expanded it on the same
pattern as it was in the lifetime of Allah's Apostle by using adobes,
leaves of date-palms and changing the pillars into wooden ones.
'Uthman changed it by expanding it to a great extent and built its
walls with engraved stones and lime and made its pillars of engraved
stones and its roof of teak wood.

Ibn 'Abbas said to me and to his son 'Ali, "Go to Abu Sa'id and listen
to what he narrates." So we went and found him in a garden looking
after it. He picked up his Rida', wore it and sat down and started
narrating till the topic of the construction of the mosque reached. He
said, "We were carrying one adobe at a time while 'Ammar was carrying
two. The Prophet saw him and started removing the dust from his body
and said, "May Allah be Merciful to 'Ammar. He will be inviting them
(i.e. his murderers, the rebellious group) to Paradise and they will
invite him to Hell-fire." 'Ammar said, "I seek refuge with Allah from
affliction."

I heard 'Uthman bin 'Affan saying, when people argued too much about
his intention to reconstruct the mosque of Allah's Apostle, "You have
talked too much. I heard the Prophet saying, 'Whoever built a mosque,
(Bukair thought that 'Asim, another subnarrator, added, "Intending
Allah's Pleasure"), Allah would build for him a similar place in
Paradise.' "

Once I saw Allah's Apostle at the door of my house while some
Ethiopians were playing in the mosque (displaying their skill with
spears). Allah's Apostle was screening me with his Rida' so as to
enable me to see their display. ('Urwa said that 'Aisha said, "I saw
the Prophet and the Ethiopians were playing with their spears.")

Barira came to seek my help regarding her manumission. I told herself
you like I would pay your price to your masters but your Al-Wala(1)
would be for me." Her masters said, "If you like, you can pay what
remains (of the price of her manumission), (Sufyan the sub-narrator
once said), or if you like you can manumit her, but her (inheritance)
Al-Wala would be for us. "When Allah's Apostle came, I spoke to him
about it. He said, "Buy her and manumit her. No doubt Al-Wala(1) is
for the manumitted." Then Allah's Apostle stood on the pulpit (or
Allah's Apostle ascended the pulpit as Sufyan once said), and said,
"What about some people who impose conditions which are not present in
Allah's Book (Laws)? Whoever imposes conditions which are not in
Allah's Book (Laws), his conditions will be invalid even if he imposed
them a hundred times."

In the mosque l asked Ibn Abi Hadrad to pay the debts which he owed to
me and our voices grew louder. Allah's Apostle heard that while he was
in his house. So he came to us raising the curtain of his room and
said, "O Ka'b!" I replied, "Labaik, O Allah's Apostle!" He said, "O
Ka'b! reduce your debt to one half," gesturing with his hand. I said,
"O Allah's Apostle! I have done so." Then Allah's Apostle said (to Ibn
Abi Hadrad), "Get up and pay the debt to him."

A black man or a black woman used to sweep the mosque and he or she
died. The Prophet asked about her (or him). He was told that she (or
he) had died. He said, "Why did you not inform me? Show me his grave
(or her grave)." So he went to her (his) grave and offered her (his)
funeral prayer."

"The Prophet said, "Last night a big demon (afreet) from the Jinns
came to me and wanted to interrupt my prayers (or said something
similar) but Allah enabled me to overpower him. I wanted to fasten him
to one of the pillars of the mosque so that all of you could See him
in the morning but I remembered the statement of my brother Solomon
(as stated in Quran): My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me a kingdom
such as shall not belong to anybody after me (38.35)." The sub
narrator Rauh said, "He (the demon) was dismissed humiliated."

The Prophet sent some horsemen to Najd and they brought a man called
Thumama bin Uthal from Bani Hanifa. They fastened him to one of the
pillars of the mosque. The Prophet came and ordered them to release
him. He went to a (garden of) date-palms near the mosque, took a bath
and entered the, mosque again and said, "None has the right to be
worshipped but Allah an Muhammad is His Apostle (i.e. he embraced
Islam)."

On the day of Al-Khandaq (battle of the Trench' the medial arm vein of
Sa'd bin Mu'ad was injured and the Prophet pitched a tent in the
mosque to look after him. There was another tent for Banu Ghaffar in
the mosque and the blood started flowing from Sa'd's tent to the tent
of Bani Ghaffar. They shouted, "O occupants of the tent! What is
coming from you to us?" They found that Sa'd' wound was bleeding
profusely and Sa'd died in his tent.

I complained to Allah's Apostle that I was sick. He told me to perform
the Tawaf behind the people while riding. So I did so and Allah's
Apostle was praying beside the Ka'ba and reciting the Sura starting
with "Wat-tur-wa-Kitabinmastur."

Two of the companions of the Prophet departed from him on a dark night
and were led by two lights like lamps (going in front of them from
Allah as a miracle) lighting the way in front of them, and when they
parted, each of them was accompanied by one of these lights till he
reached their (respective) houses.

The Prophet delivered a sermon and said, "Allah gave a choice to one
of (His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the
Hereafter. He chose the latter." Abu Bakr wept. I said lo myself, "Why
is this Sheikh weeping, if Allah gave choice to one (of His) slaves
either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Here after and
he chose the latter?" And that slave was Allah's Apostle himself. Abu
Bakr knew more than us. The Prophet said, "O Abu Bakr! Don't weep. The
Prophet added: Abu- Bakr has favored me much with his property and
company. If I were to take a Khalil from mankind I would certainly
have taken Abu Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood and friendship is
sufficient. Close all the gates in the mosque except that of Abu
Bakr.

"Allah's Apostle in his fatal illness came out with a piece of cloth
tied round his head and sat on the pulpit. After thanking and praising
Allah he said, "There is no one who had done more favor to me with
life and property than Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafa. If I were to take a
Khalil, I would certainly have taken Abu- Bakr but the Islamic
brotherhood is superior. Close all the small doors in this mosque
except that of Abu Bakr."

Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet arrived at Mecca and sent for 'Uthman bin
Talha. He opened the gate of the Ka'ba and the Prophet, Bilal, Usama
bin Zaid and 'Uthman bin Talha entered the Ka'ba and then they closed
its door (from inside). They stayed there for an hour, and then came
out." Ibn 'Umar added, "I quickly went to Bilal and asked him (whether
the Prophet had prayed). Bilal replied, 'He prayed in it.' I asked,
'Where?' He replied, 'Between the two pillars.' "Ibn 'Umar added, "I
forgot to ask how many Rakat he (the Prophet) had prayed in the
Ka'ba."

I was standing in the mosque and somebody threw a gravel at me. I
looked and found that he was 'Umar bin Al-Khattab. He said to me,
"Fetch those two men to me." When I did, he said to them, "Who are
you? (Or) where do you come from?" They replied, "We are from Ta'if."
'Umar said, "Were you from this city (Medina) I would have punished
you for raising your voices in the mosque of Allah's Apostle

During the life-time of Allah's Apostle I asked Ibn Abi Hadrad in the
mosque to pay the debts which he owed to me and our voices grew so
loud that Allah's Apostle heard them while he was in his house. So he
came to us after raising the curtain of his room. The Prophet said, "O
Ka'b bin Malik!" I replied, "Labaik, O Allah's Apostle." He gestured
with his hand to me to reduce the debt to one half. I said, "O Allah's
Apostle have done it." Allah's Apostle said (to Ibn Hadrad), "Get up
and pay it."

Ibn 'Umar said, "While the Prophet was on the pulpit, a man asked him
how to offer the night prayers. He replied, 'Pray two Rakat at a time
and then two and then two and so on, and if you are afraid of the dawn
(the approach of the time of the Fajr prayer) pray one Rak'a and that
will be the witr for all the Rakat which you have offered." Ibn 'Umar
said, "The last Rakat of the night prayer should be odd for the
Prophet ordered it to be so.

A man came to the Prophet while he was delivering the sermon and asked
him how to offer the night prayers. The Prophet replied, 'Pray two
Rakat at a time and then two and then two and so on and if you are
afraid of dawn (the approach of the time of the Fajr prayer) pray one
Rak'a and that will be the with for all the Rakat which you have
prayed." Narrated 'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: A man called
the Prophet while he was in the mosque.

While Allah's Apostle was sitting in the mosque (with some people)
three men came, two of them came in front of Allah's Apostle and the
third one went away, and then one of them found a place in the circle
and sat there while the second man sat behind the gathering, and the
third one went away. When Allah's Apostle finished his preaching, he
said, "Shall I tell you about these three persons? One of them betook
himself to Allah and so Allah accepted him and accommodated him; the
second felt shy before Allah so Allah did the same for him and
sheltered him in His Mercy (and did not punish him), while the third
turned his face from Allah, and went away, so Allah turned His face
from him likewise.

(the wife of the Prophet) I had seen my parents following Islam since
I attained the age of puberty. Not a day passed but the Prophet
visited us, both in the mornings and evenings. My father Abii Bakr
thought of building a mosque in the courtyard of his house and he did
so. He used to pray and recite the Qur'an in it. The pagan women and
their children used to stand by him and look at him with surprise. Abu
Bakr was a Softhearted person and could not help weeping while
reciting the Quran. The chiefs of the Quraish pagans became afraid of
that (i.e. that their children and women might be affected by the
recitation of Quran)."

The Prophet said, "The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five
times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one's
house or in a business center, because if one performs ablution and
does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole
intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the
mosque, Allah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses
out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque he is
considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the
angels keep on asking for Allah's forgiveness for him and they keep on
saying: 'O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as
he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind. (See
Hadith No. 620).

The Prophet clasped his hands, by interlacing his fingers. Narrated
'Abdullah that Allah's Apostle said, "O 'Abdullah bin 'Amr! What will
be your condition when you will be left with the sediments of (worst)
people?" (They will be in conflict with each other).

Abu Huraira said, "Allah's Apostle led us in one of the two 'Isha'
prayers (Abu Huraira named that prayer but I forgot it)." Abu Huraira
added, "He prayed two Rakat and then finished the prayer with Tasllm.
He stood up near a piece of wood Lying across the mosque and leaned on
it in such a way as if he was angry. Then he put his right hand over
the left and clasped his hands by interlacing his fingers and then put
his J right cheek on the back of his left hand. The people who were in
haste left the mosque through its gates. They wondered whether the
prayer was reduced. And amongst them were Abu Bakr and 'Umar but they
hesitated to ask the Prophet. A long-handed man called Dhul-Yadain
asked the Prophet, 'O Allah's Apostle! Have you; forgotten or has the
prayer been reduced?' The Prophet replied, 'I have neither forgotten
nor has the prayer been reduced' The Prophet added, 'Is what Dhul
Yadain has said true?' They (the people) said, 'Yes, it is true.' The
Prophet stood up again and led the prayer, completing the remaining
prayer, forgotten by him, and performed Talsrm, and then said, 'Allahu
Akbar.' And then he did a prostration as he used to prostrate or
longer than that. He then raised his head saying, 'Allahu Akbar; he
then again said, 'Allahu Akbar', and prostrated as he used to
prostrate or longer than that. Then he raised his head and said,
'Allahu Akbar.' " (The subnarrator added, "I think that they asked
(Ibn Sirin) whether the Prophet completed the prayer with Taslim. He
replied, "I heard that 'Imran bin Husain had said, 'Then he (the
Prophet) did Taslim.")

Musa bin 'Uqba said, "I saw Salim bin 'Abdullah looking for some
places on the way and prayed there. He narrated that his father used
to pray there, and had seen the Prophet praying at those very
places."

Narrated Nafi' on the authority of Ibn 'Umar who said, "I used to pray
at those places." Musa the narrator added, "I asked Salim on which he
said, 'I agree with Nafi' concerning those places, except the mosque
situated at the place called Sharaf Ar-Rawha."